Acute Metro- Peritonitis in the Mare 877 



b. Acute Metro-peritonitis in the Mare. 



Acute metro-peritonitis in the mare is most frequently due to 

 a perforation of the uterine walls during parturition, or to 

 lacerations or contusions of the uterine walls, which soon lead to 

 necrosis of an area, through which an avenue is afforded for the 

 passage of infection from the uterine cavity to the peritoneum. 



The wounds which invite the infection and afford an avenue 

 for the entrance of the organisms into the deeper tissues fre- 

 quently occur just in front of the pubic brim along the utero- 

 vaginal floor, and are apparently often due to the presence of a 

 conical bony projection on the symphysis pubis, as indicated in 

 Fig. 113b, page 677. The perforation may be direct, but proba- 

 bly more frequently consists of an irrecoverable contusion and 

 maiming of the uterine tissues between an unyielding portion of 

 the fetus and the conical projection of the pelvis. The contu- 

 sions may also be due to a portion of the fetus becoming impacted 

 against the pubic brim and crushing the intervening uterine floor, 

 especially during forced extraction with important deviations, as 

 already related on page 818. 



It also results frequently from the intensity of infection of the 

 uterine walls, from rough handling during dystokia, from the 

 introduction of virulent organisms into the, uterine cavity upon 

 the hands of obstetrists or others, the putrid decomposition of 

 the fetus in the uterus, and other similar causes. 



The symptoms may be preceded by, or include in a measure, 

 those of endometritis, already described. I^aminitis, which is so 

 often observed in endometritis, is not a common symptom. The pa- 

 tient is stiff and disinclined to move. Pressure upon the abdominal 

 walls induces severe pain. Fever and loss of appetite are marked. 

 The vulva and perineum are usually swollen. As a general rule, 

 vaginal discharge is present, .soiling the tail and neighboring 

 parts. Manual exploration of the genital tract reveals its walls 

 swollen, more or less paretic, thickened and painful to the touch. 

 The uterine cavity may contain a variable amount of disease dis- 

 charges, thick, flocculent and fetid, as already described in endo- 

 metritis. 



The prognosis is extremely grave. Few mares recover from 

 the disease, but usually succumb from gangrene and septicaemia 

 in from three to ten days. 



